Electrically-driven spindle.



Pathted Dec. I9, |899.

H. B. lsAwYla' & n. Ho. ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN SPINDL-E.

(Applicati'n filed June 28, 1899.)

@No Model.)

No. 639,443.'l

Patented Dec. I9, |899. H. B. SAWYER & R. ROBE.

`ELEGTRIGALLY DBIVEN SPINDLE.

(Application led June 28. 1899.) (No Model.)

3 shQets-s'neet 2.

Patented nee. 19, |899.

H." B. SAWYER & R. ROBB. ELECTRICALLY DHIVEN SPINDLE.

(Application led June 28, 1899.)

-...-..m n w Ng O w m m fla/enfans' y- Saedfa invention.

FETCH@- HENRY B. SAVYER, OF NEWTON, AND RUSSELL ROBE, OF CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEC-TRlCALLY-DRIVEN SPINDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,443, dated December 19, 1899, I

Application filed June 28, 1899. Serial No. 722,140. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Bc it known that we, HENRY B. SAWYER, residing at Newton, and RUSSELL ROBB, residing at Concord, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Driven Spindles, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure l is an end elevation, partly in section, of a spinning-frame provided With our Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic front elevation, and Fig. 4 is a detail of the spindle and brake.

Our invention relates to electrically-operated spindles of the form wherein each spindle is provided with an individual electric motor of the alternating induction type, with the rotor mounted directly on the spindle and surrounded by the stator, which in turn is energized by polyphase alternating current, producing therein a rotating magnetic fie-ld, which acts inductively upon the rotor. In the operation of spindles thus driven it has been found that by reason of the Weight of the rotor and the iineness of the spindle-bearings the spindles cannot be stopped at once by shutting o the current from the bank of spindle-driving motors, but that even after the current is Withdrawn they Will continue to run by reason of their momentum, and if the separate motor which drives the feedrolls has its current cut off at the same time it will no longer cause the feed-rolls to deliver the yarn at a proper rate to correspond with the decreasing speed of the spindles, and, moreover, the spindles themselves, When running by momentum only, Will not revolve at the same speed, but each take its own speed dependent upon the condition of the bearings and other individual characteristics.4

In consequence the yarn Will be broken at some or even all of the spindles. It is also objectionable to have the feeding of the yarn continued after the spindle has ceased to run at a speed adequate to give the desired twist to the yarn. We therefore have provided with the individual motors for the separate spindles, which have in their stators al rotary magnetic field dependent upon the frequency of the alternations of the driving-current, a single motor for driving the Whole range of 'feed-rolls, which motor is also of the induction type, with its rotary magnetic field controlled by the same frequency of alternating current that is applied to the spindle-motors, While the gearing interposed between the driving-shaft of this single motor and the feed-rolls is such as to give the latter their required rate of delivery with respect to the spindles. We furthermore provide a brake for the feed-roll motor, also a series of brakes for the respective spindle-motors, and a common operating device for all of these brakes, so that by the movement of a single control-lingdevice,which also opens the circuit, the entire mechanism may be stopped promptly and, moreover, the individual spindles and the feed-rolls Will be all brought to a standstill at substantially the same moment.

More particularly the spindle-brakes are all attached to a common rock-shaft or other operating element, so as to Work at the same instant and are preferably applied to the spindles in a'vertical direction to lift them positively from their bearings, so that the bearings do not receive the braking pressure, and their inertia is expended in friction d ue to the spindle riding on the supporting-brake. By this means the spindles may be all stopped at practically the same moment.

Referring to the drawing Fig. l, A is the bobbin of a spindle, which, in accordance With a prior-invention of ours, is driven by the rotor B of an alternating-current inductionr motor attached directly to the spindle and rotating Within a surrounding stator C, which is shown in cross-section. This spindle is the end one of a series arranged along the side of a spinning-frame.

D is the rail, also shown in section, upon which the bank of spindles is placed, and E is the base or standard which 'receives the bearing of the spindle.

F is the frame of the machine, which is shown broken away at a point opposite the end of the bank of spindles.

G represents the group of feed-rolls from IOO which the yarn is delivered to the traveler H, that directs it upon the bobbin A under tension.

K is the shaft of the driving-motor, which carries a pinion a, engaging with the larger gear-wheel b, which in turn carries the pinion b, engaging with a gear-wheel c, and that in turn drives a pinion c', engaging with the transmittinggear-wheel d. There are two of these transmitting gear-wheels d and d2 engaging with each other, the latter driving the feed-rolls G and the former a similar set of feed-rolls (not shown) on the opposite side of the spinning-frame, the two sides of the frame being duplicates of each other, each having its feed-rolls and bank of motor-driven spindles, although but one side of the frame is shown in the drawings. The transmittingwheel d2 engages with a gear-wheel e directly upon the shaft of the single feed-roll g, and the latter is in the usual manner geared to the remaining feed-rolls of the group G.

A rock-shaft L is mounted in bearings adjacent to the bank of spindles, as is shown in Fig. l and more clearlyin Fig. 2. As appears in the latter figure, the rock-shaft L may be split longitudinally, and between the two halves there may be clampedaseriesof brakefingers O, each one projecting horizontally from shaft L to a point directly underneath the rotor B, Figs. l Iand 4, of each spindlemotor, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 4, the details of the spindle-brake will be understood. In this figure, P is the spindle to which the rotor B is attached through an intervening sleeve s and which is provided with the ordinary bolsterbearing on its sides and with the ordinary step-bearing t at its lower end. It will bc evident that as the rock-shaft L is turned in the direction of the small arrow the brake-finger O will engage with the under side of the rotor B and lift it vertically, together with the attached spindle P, until the latter is lifted a slight distance away from its step-bearing t, it being free for this purpose to slide vertically in the bolster-bearing. The spindle may be lifted until the rotor Bstrikes the stop C, attached to stator C or to the frame, and the rotor is thus clamped between two brakingsurfaces Without, however, bringing a pressure on the bearings and is brought to a standstill.

Turning again to Fig. 1, the rock-shaft L is provided with a lever-arm M, which terminates directly opposite a similar lever-arm M', reaching from the corresponding rock-shaft (not shown) on the other side of the spinning-frame. From the adjoining ends of these two levers M and M extend chains m and m', which unite in a single chain N, that extends upward and takes a partial turn around a shaft R, being fastened thereto by an adjustable collar r. This shaft R is provided with an operating-handle S, Figs. l and 2, and stands normally when the spindles are running in the position shown in the drawings, being held therein by a catch or by friction, which in this case has been found sufficient and which is preferable,since it may be desirable to extend shaft R or the handle S along the spinning-frame, so that it may be operated from any point where the operator may be standing, and in that event it might be inexpedient to provide a positive lock or latch.

The arm M is provided with adjustable weight lV, drawing downward at its outer end, and the same is true of the corresponding lever-arm M for the brakes on the opposite side of the frame. Consequently when the shaftR is turned it will allow the weight lV to drop, thereby turning the arm M and the rock-shaft L, while the brake-fingers O simultaneously lift the respective rotors B from their hearings and stop the spindle, as described.

Referring to the plan diagram in Fig. 2, it appears that the arm M is not directly under the shaft R, as might be inferred from Fig. l, but at a point nearly opposite the end of the rock-shaft L which is about coterminous with the parallel row of spindles. quently the chain N will pass over a pulley Z in reaching from the shaft R to the arm M. The space between the extremity of rockshaft L and the end of the machine is occupied by the gearing which intervenes between the armature-shaft K and the feedrolls G.

It may be said in general that We contemplate placing the controlling-shaft R in any desired position on the spindle-frame where it will be within convenient reach of the operator, and in like manner we do not limit ourselves to the precise position of the arm M shown in the drawings, but it may be placed at any convenient point along the rock-shaft L andthe chain Nled thereto over one ormore pulleys or in place of it any convenient form of mechanical connection may be substituted.

The driving-motor V for the feed-rolls, as shown in Fig. 2, is ofxthe alternating-current induction type connected to the same circuit which supplies the spindle-motors, so as to be energized by a current of the same frequency.

As indicated in Fig. l, the incoming linewires are indicated at l, 2, 3, and et, and for each wire there is a switch on the shaft R, (f, X2, X3, and X4,) which controls the connection of the wires to the two motorcircuits a a and ZJ b. These two circuits branch to include the coils A and A2 of the drivingmotor on the one hand and the spindle-motor coils B B2 on the other hand. Bythis means the controlling handle S simultaneously opens the motor circuits and applies the brake, or, on the other hand, closes the motorcircuits and removes the brakes. Any other suitable arrangement for securing the requisite relative operation of brakes and switches may be employed.

Conse- IOO IIO

On the armature-shaft K of motorV is fastened a brake-disk J, Figs. l and 2, and two brake-shoes J and J 2, adapted to bear on the periphery of disk J, are carried by a lever-v arm M2, being bolted between the two strips m2 m8, Fig. 2, which compose the arm M2. This arm is similarly provided with a chain N', which passes around the shaft R and is secured thereto by an adjustable collar r. It is likewise provided with an adjustable weightW. The turning of the shaft R would therefore release the chain N and the weight W", so as to apply the brake-shoes to the disk J and stop the feed-roll motor at the same instant that the brake-lingers O lift the spindles from their bearings and bring them to a stop. Thus the simultaneous stoppage of the feed-rolls and the spindles is insured. Both sets of brakes are positiveand powerful and are accurately adjusted with relation to cach other, so as to give the required positive and uniform stop to all the parts of the mechanism.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l l. The combination with a series of spindles of individual driving-motors therefor, a single motor driving the feed-rolls for all of the spindles, a series of individual brakes for the spindles a common controlling device and a brake for the feed-roll motor, all operating together by the movement of the common controlling device.

2. The combination witha series of spindles of individual driving-motors therefor, a single motor driving the feed-rolls for all of the spindles, a series of individual brakes for the spindle-motors, a brake for the feed-roll motor, a common operating device and a mechanical connection from the said device to the brake of the feed-roll motor and to the series of brakes for the spindle-motors.

3. The combination with a series ofspindles of a corresponding series of individual electric motors for driving the respective spindles, a series of simultaneouslyoperating brakes for the individual motors, a single motor for driving the feed-rolls of all the spindles, a brake therefor, a common controllingswitch for the said motors, and a common operating device for the switch and the brakes aforesaid.

and a common controlling device for the several spindle-brakes and the feed-roll brake.

5. The combination With a series of spindles and their individual driving-motors, of'a series of brakes for the respective spindles, a common operating device for the said brakes extending parallel to the line of spindles, a single motor for driving the feed-rolls of all the spindles, a brake therefor and a common operating-handle placed at one point of the machine and provided with intermediate connecting devices leading both to the spindlebrakes and to the brake of the feed-roll motor.

6. The combination with a series of spindles and their individual driving-motors, of a series of brakes for the respective spindles, a common operating device for the said brakes extending parallel to the line of spindles, a single motor for driving the feed-rolls of all the spindles, a brake therefor and a common operating-handle or actuating device placed at one point of the machine and provided with intermediate connecting devices leading both to the spindle-brakes and to the brake of the feed-roll motor and a controlling-switch for both the feed-roll and thespindle-motors also connected to the said handle or actuating device.

7. The combination with a series of spindles of individual alternating-current motors therefor of the polyphase induction type, a single motor of the same type for the feedrolls of all the spindles connected to the same circuit, so as to receive the same frequency of current, and speed-changing devices between the armature-shaft of the feed-roll motor and the feed-rolls. l

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, before two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of June, 1899.

HENRY B. SAWYER. RUSSELL ROBE.

Witnesses: j

J. HERBERT SAWYER, CHAs. C. RYDER. 

